KIwanis Club of Bellevue to Sponsor Annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony

Once again, the Kiwanis Club of Bellevue will sponsor Bellevue’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Sept. 11 at 6:00 p.m. in Bellevue’s American Heroes Park. This ceremony remembers and honors the men and women and their families who have courageously fought for our country since then, as well as the lives lost on that tragic day in 2001 and the first responders –firefighters, EMTs, and law enforcement -- who protect us every day. We will also be honoring our Wounded Warriors and their families, who struggle daily to live complete and fulfilling lives, despite their challenges.

The main parts of the ceremony are the Ringing of the Four Fives to honor our first responders and the Roll Call of the Fallen from Nebraska and Western Iowa, with Jr. ROTC cadets and active duty military honoring each fallen warrior with a military salute as officials read their names, branch of service, and hometowns. An honor guard of first responders and military leaders will lay a memorial wreath. It is our commitment that each of their names will always be spoken so that their memory lives in us and challenges us to live our lives to the highest standards.

The primary objective in creating the memorial in 2002 was to create a place for people, especially families of fallen warriors, to come and find a place of solace and a reminder that those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten. It also serves as a focal point for teaching others about the values that make America great, consistent with one of the 6 Objectives of Kiwanis – to promote a more serviceable citizenship.